Beyond the Clouds (The Full Sun)

Summary: Beyond the Clouds (aka The Full Sun) is a 16 episode 2014 k-drama produced for KBS2. This series  follows the story of Jung Se Ro (Yoon Kye Sang) as he is falsely accused of murder while visiting his father in Thailand and imprisoned for five years. When he is finally set free, he heads back to South Korea with a plan to destroy the woman (Han Ji Hye) that he believes is responsible for ruining his life. But as his plot to seek revenge begins to unfold, he realizes that everything is not as it appears to be and he unexpectedly develops feelings for the woman whose life he intends to ruin.

-1 heart for too much crying

Recommendation: This is a must watch! Beyond the Clouds is a quick 16 episodes that is packed with plot twists, betrayal, and romance. This is also one of the more beautifully filmed k-dramas that I have come across recently. It is full of panoramic views, long looming shadows, and carefully staged moments between the actors. The story is beautifully crafted and brought to life by a great cast. Yoon Kye Sang and Han Ji Hye have an on-screen chemistry that clicks and they could easily contend for some "Best Kiss" of 2014 awards. For once, I loved the ending and it felt like the story had come full circle as the credits rolled. That's a rare treat in a k-drama.

Other Thoughts (And Possible Spoilers):  Admittedly, I had doubts about this k-drama as I began watching it. I thought, "Is this a murder/mystery sequel to I Summon You, Gold! ?" After all, Han Ji Hye's character in that k-drama was an aspiring jewelry designer. And, she was playing, you guessed it, another jewelry designer in this drama. It sounded like a perfect recipe for the same character to show up with a new name in a new setting but with all the same personality traits. It's nice to be wrong. It never felt like a sequel and I think the role of Han Young Won was much better suited to Han Ji Hye's talents.

Speaking of Yoon Kye Sang, he should write a "Kissing for K-Dramas" manual and distribute it to some of his fellow actors. This is a guy that knows how to get it right

All that aside, there are plenty of other moments to admire in this series. I particularly liked the interplay between Yoon Kye Sang and Choi Jin Woong, who played Jung Se Ro's adopted brother.  The band of merry con-men also added the necessary comedy when the series started feeling too dark and heavy.

I want to close with a compliment to the writer of this drama. My biggest criticism of k-dramas in general is that they often play to the stereotype. For example, the evil character is evil without failing and will always choose to do the wrong/bad thing.. There are no surprises. Beyond the Clouds was full of characters that the moved along the spectrum of good and bad without being absolutely defined as one or the other. I really enjoyed watching the characters struggle with their choices.

Also check out the soundtrack. This is one of a string of current k-dramas that have curated a particularly moving selection of songs that helped set the mood of the series.

Side note: It could easily just be me but I feel like the arc of the plot bares some resemblance to the 2006 film Love Me Not that starred Moon Geun Young and Kim Ju Hyeok. Anyone else think so?